The Southern California News Group’s High School Football Preview magazine is included for subscribers in the Sunday, Aug. 18 edition of your local newspaper. The magazine is also available for purchase at some SCNG offices during business hours.

A week-by-week look at the Long Beach area’s top high school football games for the 2019 season:

Week 0: Aug. 23

Mayfair vs. Long Beach Wilson at Bellflower High

This local matchup will be the first look at the Monsoons without quarterback Josh Calvin and safety Chris Adimora, and will give an idea if Mayfair can make another playoff run in 2019. The Bruins will be measuring their growth against a team that last year beat them 50-14.

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Week 1: Aug. 30

Warren at St. Anthony at Clark Field

This will be the second game for Warren since Kevin Pearson took over for Raul Lara as head coach. The Bears will face off with a Saints team that struggled mightily in 2018 but is hoping that a year of seasoning for its young roster will produce better results this season.

Poly’s DeAngelo Chester is stopped for a loss by Los Alamitos’ Michael Reddy, right, at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Week 2: Sept. 6

Los Alamitos vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium

Last year’s matchup between the Griffins and Jackrabbits was a low-scoring contest that Los Al won 20-6. This year’s edition could be a similar story, as Poly’s offense, led by promising sophomore quarterback Shea Kuykendall, should be tested by the Griffins’ stalwart defense.

Week 3: Sept. 13

Long Beach Poly at Serra

Are the Jackrabbits going to be legitimate contenders to make the new format of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs, or will they instead play for the Division 2 title? Wins against Los Alamitos and Serra in consecutive weeks would go a long way in helping the Jackrabbits’ playoff resume.

Week 4: Sept. 20

Long Beach Wilson at Compton

The Tarbabes narrowly missed a chance at a playoff appearance in 2018 after a season-ending loss to Wilson. Compton can avenge that loss to the Bruins to start Moore League play this year, and prove it is building on last year’s progress with a win.

Week 5: Sept. 27

Long Beach Poly at Millikan

What are the Rams going to look like under new head coach Romeo Pellum? This game against Poly will give everyone a good idea, and will show if Millikan is ready to return to the playoffs after two straight appearances.

The Wilson Bruins take the field as they get ready to take on Poly Friday night, September 21, 2018 in Long Beach. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

Week 6: Oct. 4

Long Beach Poly at Long Beach Wilson

Long Beach’s oldest rivalry is the second Moore League game for each school. Given all the turnover at programs like Millikan and Lakewood this offseason, the Jackrabbits and Bruins enter 2019 as the Moore League favorites and this game could go a long toward determining if anyone can take the league title away from Poly.

Week 7: Oct. 11

St. John Bosco at JSerra

The Braves open the season with five out-of-state matchups before starting Trinity League play against Servite. Their second league game, however, is a crucial one. JSerra was Bosco’s toughest regular-season opponent in 2018 and the Braves will look to put together a better all-around performance against the Lions this year.

Paramounts Terrell Taylor takes down Warren’s Xamarion Gordon as the Pirates take on the Bears Friday night, October 5, 2018 in Paramount. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

Week 8: Oct. 18

Paramount at Warren

Paramount was last year’s San Gabriel Valley League champion, while Warren was a close second place following a three-point loss to the Pirates. Both teams know the implications for this year’s rematch, with another SGVL title possibly up in the air.

Week 9: Oct. 25

Mater Dei at St. John Bosco

Monarchs and Braves, what else need we say? Bosco will be looking for revenge after losing to Mater Dei in last year’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship, and the odds are always strong that this matchup between fierce rivals determines the Trinity League champion.

Week 10: Nov. 1

Los Alamitos vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor HS

The Griffins and Sea Kings shared the Sunset League title last year after tying each other in a game that was cut short by lightning. A final week matchup between the two teams in 2019 seems like a fitting way to end the regular season.

Adam Grosbard covers USC athletics for the Orange County Register and Southern California News Group. He's previously covered SMU athletics and the WNBA for the Dallas Morning News and high school sports for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. A Pasadena native, he currently lives in the South Bay.

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